Volatile constituents of five Baccharis Species from Northeastern Argentina

Essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Baccharis gaudichaudiana, B. microcephala, B. penningtonii, B. phyteumoides and B. spicata collected from different locations in Argentina were analyzed. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were performed using a GC/FID/MS system with a special configuration. Essential oil yields ranged from 0.1 to 0.2% (m/v of dry material). Different chemical patterns were observed in the essential oils composition of the species studied: spathulenol and β-pinene were the main constituents in B.gaudichaudiana, whereas caryophyllene oxide and spathulenol were the major constituents in B. microcephala and B. spicata. In this latter species, β-pinene has also been found in high amounts. Germacrene D was the major compound in B. penningtonii. Finally, β-selinene and phytol acetate E were the main components in B. phyteumoides.